Mid-day meal suppliers seek more funds
Bathinda, August 15
The mid-day meal scheme which was conceived by the Central government and put to practice has always been in news for the wrong reasons. The scheme’s main purpose was to check the drop-out rate of children from government
schools.

Govt: Bar portals selling sex determination kits
Chandigarh, August 15
The Union government wants websites offering gender testing kits to be blocked. For the purpose, the Union health and family welfare secretary has requested the secretary, Home, to prevail upon the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT- In).

CM Parkash Singh Badal (left) inspects the guard of honour during a function organised on the occasion of the Independence Day in Ferozepur on Saturday while students (right) perform ‘Bhangra’. Tribune photos: Pawan Sharma

Gastroenteritis spreads in Sangherra village
Villagers complaining of vomiting and diarrhoeaBarnala, August 15
Due to supply of contaminated drinking water reportedly from the underground leaked water pipes in some parts of the Sangherra village (about 4 km from Barnala), gastroenteritis has spread, especially, in a locality of the village, during the past couple of days.

Tikshan Sud, a cabinet minister, unfurls the national flag during an Independence Day function held at the Sports Stadium in Bathinda. Tribune
photo: Pawan Sharma

I-Day Celebrations‘Make efforts to curb social evils’
Fazilka, August 15
Fazilka SDM Ashwani Kumar unfurled the national flag at the official function held at the Government Senior Secondary School here today.
He took the salute from the contingents of Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guard, school children and NSS volunteers.

Dera followers launch tree plantation drive
Fazilka, August 15
On the occasion of Independence Day and birthday of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan on August 16, the followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, Fazilka branch resolved to plant 50,000 saplings in different parts of the town and rural areas.

Extended-Campus MBA CoursesPbi varsity’s move raises eyebrows
Patiala, August 15
The move of the Punjabi University, Patiala, to grant permission to five “selected” private colleges to start “extended-campus” MBA courses in the name of “revenue generation”, has stirred a hornet’s nest with un-aided colleges crying foul and accusing the top university authorities of showering “favours” on certain “well-connected” private colleges.

Police recruitments from Sept 2
Jalandhar, August 15
Recruitment of male constables to the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) will be held between September 2 and 7.
DIG Ishwer Singh said candidates for the Patiala range, comprising the revenue districts of
Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar, Sangrur and Barnala, would have to bring relevant documents at the Police Lines,
Sangrur, on September 2 at 8 in the morning.

Bathinda, August 15
The mid-day meal scheme which was conceived by the Central government and put to practice has always been in news for the wrong reasons. The scheme’s main purpose was to check the drop-out rate of children from government schools. Earlier, aanganwari workers used to make food in schools but due to regular complaints regarding the quality of food cooked by these workers, the task was outsourced and some self-help groups came forward to cook food. Now, these groups have told the government that if the funds given to them are not increased then they would stop the meal supply after August 15.

Confirming this Sukhwinder Kaur, who runs a self-help group in Bathinda and caters to around 450 children daily, told this correspondent that the funds given to them were not adequate.

“We are almost working on no profit and no loss with the amount being given to us by the government for making food. We have workers working under us and they are daily wagers. At times it gets difficult to even pay them their daily wage because after buying ration we are left with nothing.”

She also said that two months before the daily allowance given for preparing mid-day meal per child was Rs 2 but when they protested against this amount given by the government, the amount was raised to Rs 2.8 paise per child in elementary section and Rs 2.60 paise per child in secondary section.

Stating that the prices of sugar has gone up to Rs 35 a kg, Bengal gram costs Rs 40 a kg, Kabli gram is Rs 65 per kg and pulses have shot up by Rs 30 to 40 a kg, Sukhwinder said, “We can not afford these items in such meager funds given by the government. Around 16 to 17 kg ghee is used per week and we can not derive profit from the work we are doing.”

She also said that they compromise on quality at times because of no profit left for self-help group workers.

Confirming the decline in quality of food cooked by these groups, Jaswinder Singh, who works at a primary school, while opposing these groups said, “We have kept our own cooks to prepare mid-day meals for our students. There have been constant complaints regarding the food prepared by them. These groups start preparing food a night prior if they have to give the meals in the morning and seeing the kind of weather these days and inadequate storage facilities available with these groups the food gets stale by the time it reaches the students. The quality of raw items used is also not good.”

Chandigarh, August 15
The Union government wants websites offering gender testing kits to be blocked. For the purpose, the Union health and family welfare secretary has requested the secretary, Home, to prevail upon the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT- In).

The Cabinet secretariat has also been approached to convene a meeting of all secretaries concerned. Besides, the Union Department of the Health and Family Welfare is contemplating to approach the Ministry of Postal and Customs to intercept sex determination kits imported from abroad.

In an affidavit submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court on a petition based on media reports, it was submitted the PNDT wing of the Ministry of the Health and Family Welfare was fully conscious regarding availability of sex determination kits in the grey market and through website channels.

It has drawn a comprehensive plan to block all sources, from which such kits can be available. The affidavit also noticed that popular internet search engine "Google" was providing link to sources of websites, which offer sex determination kits for small fee. The affidavit stated that all websites offering the facilities were hosted by the private organisations from overseas.

The Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia asserted: "We are satisfied that the officers of the Union and the two state governments are conscious that availability of gender testing kits/sex determination kits will cause harm to the efforts of the governments to propagate, educate, sensitise and cause awareness among various walks of the society regarding ills of foeticide and therefore, effective adequate steps are being taken to make availability of gender testing kits/sex determination kits scarce.

"Not only a mandate has been issued against the imports, but the functionaries of the governments are also vigilant and making efforts in right earnest to quell import of such kits in the grey market and through regulated means."

Addressing media at sector headquarters here today, Rajesh Gupta, DIG BSF, said that four Pakistani intruders who were trying to sneak into Indian Territory were apprehended today around 3 am from the area close to border pillar 177/10 between the border outposts Tapu and Kulwant, along the international border in this sector.

Gupta said that the intruders were spotted by the BSF troops with the help of Hand Held Thermal Imagers (HHTI) while they were coming towards the fencing. In a proactive action, the BSF troops went ahead and surrounded the intruders, who tried to take shelter of thick "sirkanda" growth in an old creek around 100 metres ahead of the cobra fencing towards
Pakistan.

On noticing the presence of BSF troops, Pak intruders fired at them from their pistols; however, the BSF men retaliated and soon overpowered them.

Gupta said that two Kg heroin, two Chinese-made pistols, two magazines with 17 rounds, Pakistani cell phones with four SIM cards besides Rs 1,451 Pakistani currency was recovered from the intruders, who have been identified as Faqir Hussain (20), Mohammed Iqhlak (20), Allah Basaya Masih (25) and Akbar Masih (25), all of whom are residents of Kasur (the Pakistani town close to Ferozepur border).

When asked about their motive to sneak into the Indian Territory on Independence Day, Gupta while ruling out any subversive agenda, said that nothing much could be said as of now, as interrogation was still underway, adding that any further details would hinder the interrogation process.

He, however, added that a case under arms Act, NDCT Act and Passport Act would be registered against them by the evening.

Barnala, August 15
Due to supply of contaminated drinking water reportedly from the underground leaked water pipes in some parts of the Sangherra village (about 4 km from Barnala), gastroenteritis has spread, especially, in a locality of the village, during the past couple of days. Due to the disease, the patients were coming to Barnala Civil Hospital for treatment or doctors from Barnala hospital were visiting the village to treat the patients there.

As per the information, nearly seven patients with gastroenteritis symptoms were admitted to the Barnala Civil Hospital on Friday. Some of them were discharged after treatment while one or two persons were still in the hospital.

It is also learnt that one person died on Saturday in the village. He was getting treatment from DMC Hospital, Ludhiana. However, it could not be confirmed whether he had been suffering from gastroenteritis or not.

Rajesh, a doctor from the local Civil Hospital, who visited Sangherra village on Saturday to examine the patients, while talking to The Tribune over the phone said that he found 15-16 cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in a locality of the village. He said only one or two patients could be considered as major diarrhoea cases while remaining were mild diarrhoea and vomiting cases.

Dr Rajesh said he had supplied anti-biotic and anti-diarrhoea tablets and the ORS powder to the patients. He also said that he had been asked by the villagers that there were several leaked underground water pipes in the village, from where the contaminated water entered the water pipes, he added.

Fazilka, August 15
Fazilka SDM Ashwani Kumar unfurled the national flag at the official function held at the Government Senior Secondary School here today.

He took the salute from the contingents of Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guard, school children and NSS volunteers.

While addressing the gathering, Kumar said that the country is enjoying the freedom because of great sacrifices of the martyrs and freedom fighters. He called upon all to make efforts to check social evils and fight against all odds faced by the country.

As it is the real tribute to the martyrs. SDM distributed tricycles amongst the physically challenged persons and sewing machines to the widows.

On this occasion, Markfed and block development panchayat offices displayed attractive tableaus.

It caused bit of panic and chaos during the programme. He was shifted to the local Civil Hospital from where he was discharged after giving first aid.

Fazilka, August 15
On the occasion of Independence Day and birthday of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan on August 16, the followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, Fazilka branch resolved to plant 50,000 saplings in different parts of the town and rural areas.

Dera Sacha Sauda, Fazilka, 15-member committee head Subhash Insan, while giving the details said that these saplings would be planted on Independence Day and on August 16, the birth day of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

The plantation process was started today early in the morning. Large numbers of followers brought out a rally through the new grain market, Sanjeev Cinema Chowk, Gaushall Road, Clock Tower Chowk, Hotel bazaars and other areas to motivate the residents to grow more trees.

During the rally, the supporters planted sapling in different bazaars and localities. Insan said that the local unit has decided to plant 5,000 saplings in Fazilka and remaining 45,000 in the rural areas of Fazilka sub-division. However, about 25,000 saplings were planted by the hundreds of followers in different areas today.

He said that the Dera followers have set a target of planting more than 2 crores saplings in the Punjab state.
— OC

Patiala, August 15
The move of the Punjabi University, Patiala, to grant permission to five “selected” private colleges to start “extended-campus” MBA courses in the name of “revenue generation”, has stirred a hornet’s nest with un-aided colleges crying foul and accusing the top university authorities of showering “favours” on certain “well-connected” private colleges.

Ironically, though the university’s top authorities, particularly the finance department officials, tried to project the move as the university’s effort to bail itself out of the existing financial crisis, the extension of a major portion of MBA fees to the extent of 65 per cent to the selected private colleges has itself deflated the extended logic.

Moreover, the university was already having 120 MBA seats in its campus and at its regional centre at Talwandi Sabo and extension of another 300 seats to five private institutes has raised many eyebrows.

Punjab has over 125 private colleges which have over 7,000 MBA seats, each of Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University was running with 120 seats prior to allocation of over 300 seats by the Punjabi University to five private colleges at Anandpur Sahib, Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib.

“The private colleges, most of them affiliated with Punjab Technical University (PTU), have been left high and dry as they have got lesser students this time due to the unprecedented step taken by the Punjabi University, Patiala. We have already made huge investment on our well-equipped colleges by taking huge loans. Moreover, our main objection is that the private colleges were selected through “back door” on the basis of whims and fancies of university officials and not by open invitation. It was for the first time that the university has dished out affiliation in the name of opening of its “off campuses,” rued the director of a private un-aided college.

Vice-chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh was not available for the comment. Finance department in charge-cum-HoD of the Punjabi University’s Business Department AS Chawla, however, defended the university move.

“As the university is facing financial crisis and in view of the present circumstances, we have to generate resources on our own and opening of our “extended campuses” is part of our effort towards this direction. We have taken the buildings and infrastructure from these colleges and we will be paying them 65 per cent of the fees to them,” said Chawla admitting that the university step could affect admissions to private colleges.

Jalandhar, August 15
Recruitment of male constables to the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) will be held between September 2 and 7.

DIG Ishwer Singh said candidates for the Patiala range, comprising the revenue districts of
Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar, Sangrur and Barnala, would have to bring relevant documents at the Police Lines,
Sangrur, on September 2 at 8 in the morning.

For Ferozepur and Faridkot ranges, comprising
Moga, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Faridkot, Bathinda and Mansa, the candidates should reach the In-Service Training
Centre, PAP, on September 3 at 8 am.

For Jalandhar and Border ranges and other states, comprising
Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Tarn Taran, Amritsar and
Gurdaspur, the candidates should reach Police Lines, Kapurthala, on September 7 at 8 am and for the Ludhiana range, comprising Ludhiana, Khanna and
Rupnagar, they should reach the Police Lines, Rupnagar, on September 4 at 8 am.